Coronavirus (COVID-19)

LG has updated its PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier mask by incorporating a microphone and speaker to make it easier to talk. The new device will appear first in Thailand in August with other parts of the world to follow.

A big flush of funding in the UK is pushing new research on ways to diagnose and treat long COVID. A University of Cambridge team is now working on a blood test to objectively diagnose this emerging chronic condition using immune biomarkers.

A new heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine has delivered strong preclinical results. The vaccine can remain stable for up to 30 days at around 37 °C (98 °F) and researchers are looking to begin human trials later this year.

As England removes all pandemic-related protections experts are warning the decision is “a dangerous and unethical experiment” that may put the health of millions of unvaccinated citizens at risk and provide fertile ground for new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

New studies are beginning to shed light on the lingering condition dubbed long COVID, offering evidence of who is more susceptible and what kind of symptoms are common. But experts say we still don't know what the long-term effects of COVID-19 will be.

When will COVID-19 vaccine booster shots be necessary? Pfizer claims a third booster of its vaccine may be needed six to 12 months after vaccination but not everyone is convinced, with new research finding mRNA vaccines may offer years of protection.

A new study in the journal Science Advances presents the latest research demonstrating the potential effectiveness of an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is one of several in development designed to be administered through a nasal spray.

Moderna has commenced human trials testing an mRNA influenza vaccine targeting four separate viral strains. Building on its successful mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the company is planning to develop a single vaccine against multiple respiratory viruses.

A new study from Stanford University researchers has found previous recent exposure to common-cold-causing coronaviruses could help explain why some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 only suffer mild symptoms.

Behind Pfizer and Moderna, CureVac’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was long-anticipated, with hundreds of millions of doses already pre-ordered. But its final large trial data has disappointed with only 48 percent efficacy at preventing symptomatic disease.

New research is showing that although some vaccinated people are still contracting COVID-19, they experience milder disease for less time with a low viral load. The study offers some of the first data tracking the severity of “breakthrough infections.”

Researchers have developed a face mask that can detect SARS-CoV-2 in a wearer’s breath within just 90 minutes. The sensor technology can be programmed to detect any kind of virus or toxin and is small enough to be integrated into clothing fabrics.